By Our Representative The Madhya Pradesh government, in its reply affidavit, has told the Supreme Court that since the resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) of the Sardar Sarovar dam affected people has has not completed and several applications are still pending adjudication before the Grievance Redressal Authority (GRA), they have opposed filling up the dam’s reservoir to the full reservoir level (FRL), 138.68 metres. The affidavit, filed in response to the Supreme Court bench comprising of Justices NV Ramana, Sanjiv Khanna and Krishna Murari, which had on September 27 directed the Madhya Pradesh government to file an affidavit on the status of the R&R of Sardar Sarovar dam oustees by September 30, even as fixing the hearing for October 1.The affidavit alleged that the time line suggested as per safety guidelines been “unilaterally infringed upon” by filling up the reservoir by September 15, said an anti-dam organization, Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), communique. The apex court is hearing NBA-supported dam-affected oustees’ petition objecting to filling up the dam’s reservoir to FRL. Gujarat and the Government of India (GoI) sought time to respond to the short affidavit filed by Madhya Pradesh. Sanjay Parikh, senior advocate appearing for the petitioners, on the other hand, submitted that the issue of bringing down the level of reservoir waters needs to be urgently considered. Bench asked Gujarat and GoI to hold a meeting and consider the suggestion of Madhya Pradesh. ASG “assured that he would get the appropriate committee consider the issue”, the NBA communique claimed. The matter is listed for next hearing on October 15, 2019.

TRENDING

By Shamsul Islam*RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

By Our Representative
Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book, "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Counterview Desk Demanding that the Uttar Pradesh government immediately release well-known paediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan, a group of more than 100 academicians, activists, researchers, doctors and lawyers have said in an open letter that he is being “targeted at the behest of the chief minister”, wondering, “When is an act of challenging the government a threat under the National Security Act (NSA)?”

By Rajiv Shah
Was the Government of India serious when it asked 92,000 civil society organizations (CSOs) in early April to “assist” state governments and district administrations in taking care of food, shelter and other needs of migrant workers, known to have been affected by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ sudden 21-day lockdown in order to “combat” the spread of Covid-19 virus, announced on March 24?

By Rajiv Shah
A top American doctor, Sapan Sharankishor Desai, born and raised in the “affluent” North Shore (Chicago) region of Illinois by Indian parents, at one point of time involved in NGO activity through the Desai Foundation dedicated to “improving” the lives of the impoverished in Gujarat, is in the eyes of a major international storm following his paper in a “Lancet” questioning Donald Trump-promoted drug hydroxychloroquine.

By Asmita Verma, Surabhi Agarwal, Bobby Ramakant*
The Epidemics Act, 1897 gives the central and state governments authority to impose any regulations which may be necessary to contain the outbreak of a disease. Some state governments such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh have already used this power to bring private healthcare facilities in their state under government control.

Counterview Desk
Well-known human rights activist Martin Macwan, recipient of the prestigious Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Award in 2000, has drafted an open letter to US President Donald Trump following the disturbing turn of events with the murder of George Floyd, leading to widespread protests in the US. He has sought signatures of concerned citizens before sending it to Trump.

By Shamsul Islam*
In a shocking development, the student wing of the RSS put the busts of martyrs Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose with Savarkar's on one pedestal at the University of Delhi late in the night on August 20, 2019. Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for a socialist-democratic-secular republic and Netaji raised Azad Hind Fauj (INA) consisting of people of all religions and regions for armed liberation of India.

By Our Representative
Taking strong exception to the police action against protesting migrant workers off the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) on May 18, senior Gujarat High Court advocate Anandvardhan Yagnik, in a legal notice to the IIM-A director "on their behalf" has said that the workers had only been seeking to to go back to their home states, Jharkhand and West Bengal, for the last more than 20 days because they were not paid their “earned wages because of the lockdown.”

RECENT POSTS

TRUE LIES

This is the blogging column of Rajiv Shah, editor, Counterview. A little weird, a little satirical, it is called True Lies, the same name which was chosen for his blogging column in the Times of India (TOI). Rajiv's TOI blogs can be accessed here.